North Coast Soil Health Network

Soil Health Vineyard Management Survey

This survey is part of a regional effort to develop a North Coast Soil Health Network/HUB that will provide support and technical guidance to winegrowers interested in adopting climate beneficial vineyard management practices (i.e., cover cropping, reduced tillage, composting etc.). The purpose of the survey is to capture the range of climate beneficial/soil health practices currently in use or barriers to their implementation experienced by North Coast vineyard owners and managers. We would also like to hear from you on what types of information and educational needs you may have on the topic of improving soil health.

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1.County where you farm:

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2.Vineyard characteristics:

Total vineyard size (acres)?

Acres that are certified organic?

Acres that are certified biodynamic?

Acres that are certified sustainable?

Acres with other program (Please indicate what it is)?

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3.Slope characteristics:

Flat: 0-3% slope (acres)?

Slight: 3-10% slope (acres)?

Moderate: 10-20% slope (acres)?

Severe: >20% slope (acres)?

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4.Irrigation systems used:

Sprinkler (acres)?

Drip (acres)?

Flood (acres)?

None (acres)?

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5.Vineyard row middle management (Check all that you use for each vineyard type):

All blocks

Organic

Conventional

sustainable

0-5% slope

5-15% slope

>15% slope

Irrigated

No irrigation

Maintain bare soil during growing season

Maintain bare soil during growing season All blocks menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season Organic menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season Conventional menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season sustainable menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season 0-5% slope menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season 5-15% slope menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season >15% slope menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season Irrigated menu

Maintain bare soil during growing season No irrigation menu

Maintain bare soil year round

Maintain bare soil year round All blocks menu

Maintain bare soil year round Organic menu

Maintain bare soil year round Conventional menu

Maintain bare soil year round sustainable menu

Maintain bare soil year round 0-5% slope menu

Maintain bare soil year round 5-15% slope menu

Maintain bare soil year round >15% slope menu

Maintain bare soil year round Irrigated menu

Maintain bare soil year round No irrigation menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled

Resident vegetation, not tilled All blocks menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled Organic menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled Conventional menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled sustainable menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled 0-5% slope menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled 5-15% slope menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled >15% slope menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled Irrigated menu

Resident vegetation, not tilled No irrigation menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually

Resident vegetation, tilled annually All blocks menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually Organic menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually Conventional menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually sustainable menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually 0-5% slope menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually 5-15% slope menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually >15% slope menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually Irrigated menu

Resident vegetation, tilled annually No irrigation menu

Permanent cover crop

Permanent cover crop All blocks menu

Permanent cover crop Organic menu

Permanent cover crop Conventional menu

Permanent cover crop sustainable menu

Permanent cover crop 0-5% slope menu

Permanent cover crop 5-15% slope menu

Permanent cover crop >15% slope menu

Permanent cover crop Irrigated menu

Permanent cover crop No irrigation menu

Annually re-planted cover crop

Annually re-planted cover crop All blocks menu

Annually re-planted cover crop Organic menu

Annually re-planted cover crop Conventional menu

Annually re-planted cover crop sustainable menu

Annually re-planted cover crop 0-5% slope menu

Annually re-planted cover crop 5-15% slope menu

Annually re-planted cover crop >15% slope menu

Annually re-planted cover crop Irrigated menu

Annually re-planted cover crop No irrigation menu

Annually tilled every other row

Annually tilled every other row All blocks menu

Annually tilled every other row Organic menu

Annually tilled every other row Conventional menu

Annually tilled every other row sustainable menu

Annually tilled every other row 0-5% slope menu

Annually tilled every other row 5-15% slope menu

Annually tilled every other row >15% slope menu

Annually tilled every other row Irrigated menu

Annually tilled every other row No irrigation menu

Other management (please specify)

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6.During what months is green vegetative cover present in your vineyard? Do not include summer months if vegetation is mostly dry during this time

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7.When you have cover crops or resident vegetation present, what percentage of the vineyard floor is covered?

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8.What are the barriers to using vegetative cover in your operation? Check all that apply.

no barriers

cost

equipment availability

timing issues

insufficient labor

competition with vines

weed management issues

pest or disease issues

vole or gopher problems

need more information

Other (please specify)

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9.If you use resident/volunteer vegetation or cover crops, what are the reason(s) you do so? Check all that apply.

add organic matter/improve soil health

prevent soil erosion

improve access to fields

promote beneficial insects

provide nitrogen

reduce vine vigor

Other (please specify)

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10.How do you control under the vine vegetation? (Check which apply)

Mow only

Cultivate

Pre- and post-emergent herbicides

Glyphosate (Roundup) only

Hand (string trimmers and hoes or shovels)

Grazing

Other (please specify)

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11.If you use tillage, what are the reason(s) you do so? Check all that apply.

reduce weeds to prevent competition with vines

reduce compaction

control gophers and voles

incorporate compost or fertilizer

incorporate cover crop

Other (please specify)

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12.What types of equipment or strategies do you use, if any, that enable you to reduce tillage? Please describe them here.

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13.What barriers prevent you from reducing tillage? Check all that apply.

no barriers

equipment availability

competition with vines

seedbed too rough for planting

soil compaction

diseases or pests increase without tillage

weeds increase without tillage

need more information

Other (please specify)

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14.Have you used livestock grazing during the dormant season to control vegetation in your vineyard?

yes

no

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15.If not, what are the barriers to using livestock grazing? Check all that apply.